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Cancer
It will be seen by the table of causes of death (page 56) that in 1959 115 cases (65 males
and 50 females) died from cancer. See Appendix, Table VI, for an analysis of cancer deaths
since 1935.
Overleaf is set out in tabular form a classification of the cancer deaths according to the
site of the primary growth and in ages.
The total number of deaths from cancer in 1959 fell, being 115 as compared with 139
in 1958. Cancer of the lung in males, again the highest individual figure for site of disease,
was two less than in 1958.
Although the drop in cancer deaths is considerable, there is nothing hopeful to be deduced
from this drop as the disease is a slow one, and the figure, though better, is still much higher
than figures prior to 1953; these however were exclusive of long stay hospital deaths and
by the present methods of registration it is difficult to get the exact figure of Southall
residents dying from this disease.
Distribution of Infectious Disease Notifications
For the incidence of various infectious diseases notified during the year, under age
groups and locality, see Appendix, Tables VII and VIII.
Infectious Disease Visits
During the year, the Public Health Inspectors paid 384 visits with reference to cases of
infectious disease. In addition, the County Health Visitors did a certain amount of home
and school visiting in connection with infectious diseases.
Laboratory Work
Specimens taken for bacteriological or chemical investigations, in connection particularly
with infectious disease cases, are brought daily to the Manor House and transported
to the Ealing Public Health Laboratory. The necessary investigations are carried out and
results reported simultaneously to the Medical Officer of Health and to the doctor who has
submitted the specimen from one of his patients. Details of the work carried out in 1959
are as follows:—
Faeces specimens 419
Sputum specimens 6
Blood specimens 25
Urine specimens 70
Swabs (nose, throat, eye, tongue, ear, rectal and vaginal) 102
Nail scrapings 1
Worm 1
Disinfection
In cases of infectious disease, rooms, clothing, etc., were disinfected—rooms by sealing
and fumigating with a formalin preparation; clothing, bedding and other infected articles
remaining in the room for disinfection.
Lists of premises, articles, etc., disinfected during the year:—
Rooms 13 Books 120
Beds 13 Eiderdowns 13
Blankets 30 Pillows 29
Sheets 26
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